Railway signaling system.



No. 792,818. I PATBNTBD JUNE 20, 1905. E.R.FERN.

RAILWAY SIGNALING SYSTEM.

APPLICATION nun mm. s, 1904.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 1.

Witnesses nventor I 4 fittornegsi N0. 792,818. I PATENTED JUNE 20, 1905.

E. R. FERN. v RAILWAY SIGNALING SYSTEM.

APPLIOATION FILED SEPT. 6, 1904,

2 SHEETS-BHEET 2.

Witnesses I i: I 5 Httomegs UNrTEn STATES Patented June 20, 1905.

PATENT Urrrcn.

TO JOHN W. BARNES,

OF SORANTON, PENNSYLVANIA.

RAILWAY SIGNALING SYSTEM.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 792,818, dated June 20, 1905.

Application filed September 6,1904. Serial No. 223,476.

To all whom it may concern.-

Be it known that I, EZRA R. FERN, a citizen of the United States, residing at Scranton, in the county of Lackawanna and State of Pennsylvania, have invented a new and useful Railway Signaling System, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to railway signaling systems for use in connection with electric and other railways The principal object of the invention is to provide a signaling device for use on singletrack railways with a view to displaying warning-signals at turnouts in order that a train 5 about to move from the siding to the main track may be informed whether or not the single track is already occupied by a train traveling in the same or in the opposite direction.

A still further object of the invention is to provide a signaling means disposed at the opposite ends of a block-that is to say, at the termini of the single -track road or at the points where the sidings are located-so that a train entering or leaving the main line will 5 cause the automatic display of signals at both ends of such line.

A still further object of the invention is to provide a signaling device which will instantly attract attention, the signaling means compris- 3 ing a semaphore-arm, a lamp or similar flashsignal, and an audible alarm in the form of a bell, all of which are simultaneously actuated.

With these and other objects in view, as will more fully hereinafter appear, the invention 3 5 consists in the novel construction and arrangement of parts, hereinafter fully described, illustrated in the accompanying drawings, and

- particularly pointed out in the appended claims, it being understood that various 4 changes in the form, proportions, size, and minor details of the structure may be made without departing from the spirit or sacrificing any of the advantages of the invention.

Figure 1 is a diagram of a railway signaling system constructed in accordance with the invention. Fig. 2 is an elevation of one of the signaling mechanisms, the containing-casing being shown in elevation and the parts being illustrated in non-signaling position. Fig. 3

is a similar view with the parts moved to sig- 5o naling position. Fig. A is a sectional elevation of one of the trolley-wire hangers. Fig. 5 is a detail view illustrating a portion of the system as applied to an ordinary third-rail electric-railway system. 5 5

Similar numerals of reference indicate corresponding parts in all of the figures of the drawings.

The apparatus forming the subject of the present invention is designed more especially for use in connection with electric railways, either of the overhead-trolley type or those which employ a third rail for conveying the operating-current. These roads are often arranged with a single track running for amile or more, and at suitable distances are located sidings on which trains traveling in one direction will stop for the passage of trains running on the main line. On the single track between the sidings there is always danger of collision between trains, and the present invention is designed to provide a means whereby as each train leaves the siding for the main track or travels from the main track to the siding warning-signals will be displayed, so that another train about to enter the main track will be informed as to whether such line is occupied.

The main line 1 is provided with a number of sidings, two of which, 2 and 3, are illus- 8o trated in the present instance, and at each of these sidings is arranged a signal-carrying post 4, having a suitable box or casing 5, in which the signaling means is displayed, the signals facing, preferably, in the direction of 8 5 the siding and the main line lying parallel therewith.

In each of the casings is arranged a pair of electromagnets 6 and 6, preferably having their axial lines arranged at right angles to each other. The lower magnet 6' has a pivotally mounted armature 7 normally held away from the poles of the magnet by a tension-spring 8, and the upper magnet is provided with a pivotally-mounted armature 9, which moves away from the poles of its magnet under the influence of gravity, or a suitable spring may be employed for the purpose.

The two armatures have interlocking end portions, the upper end of the armature 7 being beveled and the outer arm of the armature 9 being also beveled and provided with a depending lug 10, forming a hook for engagement with the armature 7, and when these two armatures are in contact they serve to complete the signal-energizing circuit.

The armature 7 carries an arm 11, to which is secured a suitable target 12, that may be moved into alinemcnt with a display-opening 13, arranged in the front of the box 5. Normally, however, the target is in the position shown in Fig. 2 and is concealed by the front of the casing. The casing also carries a small glow-lamp 14 and a gong 15. The lamp is arranged immediately to the rear of a displayopening 16, while the gong may be placed within the casing at a distance therefrom.

Where the apparatus is used in connection with overhead-trolley systems, the trolleywire support adjacent to each switch connection is provided with a hanger 20, having a vertical arm 21, that is connected by an insulated block 22 to the trolley-wire 23, the arm 21 being located some distance above the level of the Wire, so that it will not be engaged by the trolley-wheel. This arm 21 is provided with a vertical guideway for the reception of a vertically-movable pin 24, formed of copper or similar material and normally held down by a small compression-spring 26 in order to presentits slightly-enlarged head 27 in a position to be engaged by one of the flanges of the trolley-wheel, so that as the train moves along the trolley-wheel will momentarily engage the pin 24 and place the latter in electrical communication with the trolley-wire 23.

In Fig. 1 is illustrated the usual feed-wire 30, that is connected in the ordinary manner to the trolley-wire, and in addition to this two line-wires 31 and 32 are employed, the linewire 31 being connected with the contact-pins 27 at the switches 2 and 3, while the wire 32 is connected with the contact-pins 27 of the main-line connections. These wires "31 and 32 extend along the road for the full distance of the single track. The wires 31 lead into the casing and are connected to the coils of the upper electromagnets 6 and thence are connected by a wire 33 to ground. The wires 32 extend through the box to the coils of the electromagnet 6 and thence are connected by wire 33 to ground. From the feed-wire leads a wire 34: to the lamp 1 1, and from thence a circuit may be traced to a wire 35, to the armature 9, armature 7, Wire 38, bell 15, wire 39, to ground-wire 33.

When a train leaves the siding 2, traveling in the direction of the arrow, the trolleywheel will engage a pin 27, and this will establish a circuit from the trolley-wire through the wire 32, through the wire 31, through the wire 32,electromagnet6,and thence togrou nd, it being understood that before the contact is made the members of the signal are in the position shown in Fig. 2. When the electromagnet 6 is energized or attracts the armature 7, the latter is moved to the position shown in Fig. 3, thus completing the circuit from the feed-wire through the lamp and electric bell to ground. The movement of the armature 7 carries the target 12 to display position, and as soon as the circuit is closed the lamp is lighted and the bell commences to sound and the signals will remain in display position so long as the train is on the main line. When the train passes the main-line contact 27 adjacent to the contact and siding 3, a circuit will be completed through the second line-wire 31, and the eleetromagnets 5 will be energized, the armatures of the latter being raised, and thereby breaking the signalcircuits. At the same time the armature will move outward under influence of spring 8, the electromagnet 6 being at this time deenergized.

Should a train leave the siding 3, the electromagnets 6 will be again energized and the signals will be displayed until the train reaches the siding 2.

It will be observed that in all cases where a train is on the main line at a point below two 'sidings a signal will be displayed at each end of the main line, thus warning trains which may approach that the line is already occupied.

Where a third-rail system is used, the con tact 27 is placed, preferably, at one side of the third rail, so that it may be engaged by the traveling contact member and momentarily placed in electrical connection with the third rail.

Having thus described the invention, what I claim is 1. In a railway signaling system, the combination with signaling devices arranged in a normally open circuit, of a current-conductor in the form of a trolley-wire or third rail, electromagnets, circuit-closers controlled by said electromagnets, and a spring-pressed contact arranged in the circuit of the electromagnets and disposed to one side of the conductor in position to be engaged by the current-collecting means of the car or train.

, 2. In an electric railway signaling system,

a main conductor, contact members disposed adjacent thereto, means carried by a car or train for placing the contact member in electrical communication with the conductor, a signal arranged in a normally open circuit, a pair of armatures forming circuit-closers, a visual signal movable to display position by one of said armatures, electromagnets for said armatures, and circuits connecting the electromagnets to the contact members.

3. In electric railway signaling systems, a signaling mechanism including a casing having display-openings, a lamp in alinemcnt with one of the openings, a semaphore-arm movable into position in alinernent with a second opening, a pair of electromagnets arranged Within the casing, armatures for said electromagnets, one of the armatures carrying the semaphore, and both of the armatures being provided With interengaging end portions, substantially as specified.

In testimony that I claim the foregoing as my oWn 1 have hereto afiixed my signature in the presence of tWo Witnesses.

EZRA R. FERN.

Witnesses:

C. A. BATTENBERG, GEO. MORROW. 

